Air Canada and Pilots’ Union Face Critical Deadline for Agreement
As the deadline approaches, Air Canada and its pilots’ union, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), are under pressure to reach an agreement. At 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, both sides will be in a position to issue a 72-hour strike or lockout notice, potentially leading to a work stoppage by midweek. This could disrupt the travel plans of around 110,000 passengers daily and impact Air Canada’s cargo operations, including seafood exports from Atlantic Canada.
The key sticking point in the negotiations is pilot pay. Air Canada has been in talks with ALPA for over 15 months and remains engaged, though both sides acknowledge that they are far apart on critical issues. The airline has started preparations for a potential shutdown, though no flights have been canceled as of now.
Duncan Dee, a former COO of Air Canada, emphasized the severe impact a strike would have, calling for both parties to urgently avoid this outcome. He also warned that long-haul flight cancellations could begin soon as the airline aims to prevent planes from being stranded overseas.
While Air Canada has urged the federal government to step in and impose binding arbitration, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has declined to intervene at this stage, stating that it is up to the airline and the union to resolve the dispute.
This comes just months after a brief strike by WestJet mechanics in July, raising concerns about the reliability of the Canadian airline industry. If no deal is reached, the strike could further strain both air travel and cargo operations, with widespread repercussions across the country.